Friday, January 3, 2014

Why Handmade: Nor’easter Fun

Given the weather report, by the time you are reading this post we are either in the middle of a nice big nor’easter snowstorm, it’s already over, or it blew over and never really happened. Regardless, it’s really cold outside, and a great time to bundle up by a fireplace, and keep warm.

It is also a good time for crafting. There are no distractions such as trips to the beach to keep us away from our work. Unless you are lucky enough to be on a plane to a tropical island, the cold is here to stay for a while, which leaves plenty of time for experimentation with new design ideas and techniques. It is also a time to restock the merchandise sold during the holiday season.

For some reason, when a nor’easter is on its way, I don’t think of bundling up and making more jewelry. I imagine sitting next to the fireplace, knitting needles in hand, clicking away at the yarn, as my Nana used to do. She could knit any cartoon character of your choice into a sweater, with just a picture of the character. Alas, I cannot knit for the life of me, despite trying. I do enjoy hand sewing, and embroidery, and I may pull some out as I enjoy the snow falling outside.

Or perhaps we will do a kid’s craft or two. My son and I love playing with clay. He has a new loom to make bracelets to experiment with. We could just get out some crayons and paper, and scribble out the pictures locked in our heads. We have a bin of construction paper, glue, pom-poms, googly eyes, and any number of other supplies to make hand puppets, or anything else coming to mind.

What do you like to do when you are snow bound? Do you usually do the same craft? Or do you like to switch it up? Maybe there is something completely different you prefer to do during a storm. Hope you all keep warm, and bundle up! Craft On!